Author Archives: Trevor Freeman

About Trevor Freeman

Trevor is a real gearhead who loves everything from classic American muscle cars to high-performance exotics. When he's not reading about cars or taking photos at a car show, he's probably out cruising around. He is currently working on restoring a 1980 Chevrolet Monza hatchback.

Barrett-Jackson Breaks Records, Doubles Down with Second Scottsdale Auction

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The doom and gloom of the pandemic is over. Everywhere I turn, I am hearing news stories about travel returning to pre-pandemic numbers. The most predicted economic recession in history seems, for now at least, to have been avoided, replaced instead by the “soft landing.” Supply chains are getting back to their new normal. Consumer confidence is high, and so is consumer spending.

But this isn’t an economics website, it’s a car blog. So what does this have to do with the collector car market? Well, strong consumer confidence may have played a big role in the recent Barrett-Jackson 2024 collector car auction in Scottsdale.

Barrett-Jackson broke several of their own records for most cars sold, overall sales, and sell-through rate.

Total Consignments: In recent years, the Scottsdale auction catalog has averaged 1,600 to 1,800 vehicles. For 2024, there were a total of 2,016 vehicles consigned to sell at the auction. The previous record was 1,907 vehicles sold at the 2023 Scottsdale auction.

Sell-Through Rate: The Scottsdale 2024 auction had a 100% sell-through rate, meaning that every one of those cars sold. There were no lots which did not receive any bids.

Total Sales: Barrett-Jackson recorded automobile sales of $200.9 million and an additional $6.7 million for automobilia, for a combined auction sales of $207.6 million. The previous record was $184.2 million combined sales at the 2023 Scottsdale auction.

World Record Sales: More than 190 lots set world record prices.

In fact, demand is so high that the company has announced a second Scottsdale auction event to take place in the fall, from October 10-13 at Westworld. The fact is, the four day auction is necessary because Barrett-Jackson is hitting the limit of cars they can consign to the January auction. The second auction is necessary to meet the needs of consignors and bidders alike.

We will be there to cover the action and excitement, so subscribe to Generation High Output to stay in the loop!

1968 Fiat Dino Coupe by Bertone

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I absolutely fell in love with this little Italian car at the 2024 Arizona Concours d’Elegance! The car is a 1968 Fiat Dino Coupe by Bertone.

Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1967, the Dino has a body by Bertone with a 2.0-liter V6 engine, the same as in the Ferrari 206 Dino. The all-aluminum engine was produced by Ferrari as a way to homologate the engine for racing in Formula 2. Power output is 158 hp at 7,200 rpm and torque is 120 ft-lbs at 6,000 rpm. The car has a 5-speed transmission with disc brakes all around. It is a Gran Tourer with a 2+2 seating configuration.

I love the body lines and proportions of the car, especially the quad round headlamps and the slightly recessed front grille. This is the first Fiat Dino I have ever seen, and it was a highlight of the event for me. The car is one of 3,670 coupes built between 1966 and 1969.

According to the catalog description, the car was sourced out of a Los Angeles eBay ad in 2019 in need of a complete makeover. The body was stripped to bare metal, the interior restored with wool carpets and black leather upholstery, and the engine and transmission restored. The Arizona Concours is its first outing since restoration.

I have to congratulate the owners and their mechanics and body guys on an incredible restoration. The car truly looks top-tier in every category.

So what is a Fiat Dino worth? A couple of examples of the Coupe have sold on Bring A Trailer in the $50,000 to $70,000 range, while the Spider models are more valuable, ranging from $95,000 to $140,000. Meanwhile, a 1967-74 Ferrari Dino – which has the same engine – would sell for an easy $300,000 to $600,000.

Interestingly, the Spider was designed by Pininfarina and the Coupe was designed by Bertone. The cars have different body lines as a result, and the Spider chassis is 11 inches shorter than the Coupe.

Though not the fastest or most expensive car at the Arizona Concours, it was definitely one of my favorites at the event.

SEMA 2023: 1969 Dodge Charger TUSK by Ringbrothers

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One of the most prominent custom car builders at the SEMA Show are the Ringbrothers, Mike and Jim Ring from Wisconsin. They show up not once in a while, but every year consistently with multiple wild custom builds that take advantage of composite materials, 3D printing, CNC machining, and some truly unique design ideas. The Ringbrothers have captured numerous top awards including the overall winner at Battle of the Builders in 2022. For 2023, they returned to the SEMA Show with a completely resto-modded 1969 Dodge Charger nicknamed “TUSK.”

The car is a complete re-imagining of the classic Charger with modern materials and performance. It is not to be confused with the ’69 Charger “Defector” that the Ringbrothers built in 2020. The “TUSK” Charger has a beautiful black and gold paint scheme that really looks great. The paint is BASF’s Glasurit Waterborne and the color is GM WA8555 Black.

Under the hood is an all-aluminum supercharged 426 / 7.0L Hemi V8 “Hellephant” crate motor producing 1,000 horsepower and 950 lb-ft of torque. Just 100 units of this engine were produced as a crate motor. Coupled to that is a Bowler Performance TREMEC T-56 Magnum six-speed manual gearbox with the classic “pistol grip” shifter that the Charger is known for.

The original B-body chassis has been replaced by a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis. This not only provides a lower stance, it completely strengthens and upgrades the car’s performance and handling to modern standards.

Other improvements include an independent rear suspension, Baer Brakes Extreme 6S six-piston calipers. The car rides on a set of Ringbrothers “TUSK” Edition HRE Wheels which measure 19×10.5 in the front and 20×13 in the rear. The wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires for maximum grip in the corners.


At this point, people have come to expect the very best work from the Ringbrothers. They say that more than 5,000 man hours of labor went into this car. From the sheet metal to the paint work to the engine bay and interior, “TUSK” is a full custom built car done to the very highest standard possible – as only they can do it.

2024 Arizona Concours to Feature ‘The Art of Automotive Design’

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About the Event

January is an exciting time in Arizona, when multiple collector car events converge during “Arizona Car Week.” Automotive enthusiasts gather in the desert to kick off the new year with the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction, and the Bonhams Scottsdale Auction. A signature event that should be at the top of every list is the 2024 Arizona Concours d’Elegance, which is scheduled for Sunday, January 21, 2024.

The Art of Automotive Design is the theme for the sixth edition of the Arizona
Concours, who partnered with Scottsdale Arts to present this exceptional show and competition, with vehicles carefully curated to impress and excite not only car lovers but anyone who appreciates the beauty of expressive design. Show vehicles are professionally judged with awards presented to class winners, and the coveted Best of Show award.

The acclaimed show and competition returns to the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center on January 21st, with 100 rarely seen dream cars and highly valued collector
vehicles dating back to the dawn of motoring, through the Art Deco era, and up to the
coveted super sports cars of more-recent years.

The Best of Show winner for the 2023 event, a stunning 1947 Talbot-Lago T26 Record
Cabriolet with a sweeping body designed by Giuseppe Figoni (shown above), exemplified the elegant automobiles that are seen at the Arizona Concours.

Ticket Information

General Admission tickets for the Arizona Concours are now available online at
ArizonaConcours.com. Single admission currently costs $100 after January 1, 2024.

There are also Concours Plus tickets that include additional features: admission to a
collector car lecture series to be held on Saturday, January 20 (subjects and special
guests to be announced), and early “Dawn Patrol” admission to the Concours starting
at 7 am. Concours Plus tickets currently are priced at $110, increasing to $125 on January 1, 2024.

Proceeds from the Arizona Concours benefit local artists and art programs through its partnership with Scottsdale Arts, one of Arizona’s largest arts nonprofits. Tickets for
the Concours also are available at ScottsdaleArts.org and the box office in the
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Previously held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, the 2024 Concours will
mark its second year at The Scottsdale Civic Center, a vibrant landscaped space that
recently was extensively renovated.

Entrant Information

Owners and caretakers of special vehicles are invited to submit their cars for entry on
the ArizonaConcours.com website. Fifteen classes have been chosen for the 2024
Concours, and are listed on the website, with awards presented in each class, along
with special awards and Best of Show.

Sponsor Opportunities

Arizona Concours sponsorship opportunities also are explained on ArizonaConcours.com, showing the range of possibilities for becoming a supporting member of this popular and well-publicized event.

 

SEMA 2023: 1969 Chevrolet “Carbon Camaro” Convertible by Finale Speed

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For years, Chris Jacobs co-hosted Overhaulin’ and other shows including “Long Lost Family” on TLC. His passion for cars is well-known to his fans, who have seen him host numerous specials on networks like Velocity and Discovery.

His latest venture is the creative director for Oklahoma-based Finale Speed. The startup was founded in 2022 by JD Rudisill, who has assembled a team of veterans in the automotive world.
Finale Speed made waves in the automotive industry with the introduction of their fully carbon fiber 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, which was a sensation. The car was displayed at SEMA and Barrett-Jackson and was featured on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. Following that, Finale Speed announced the availability of a full carbon fiber 1970 Dodge Charger as well.

Now in 2023, the latest announcement from Finale Speed came at the Dynamat booth: they will be offering a 1969 Camaro Convertible as well. All of these cars are available with a full carbon fiber body sitting atop a Roadster Shop chassis. The carbon fiber body has 32 unique pieces and shaves approximately 750 lbs off the weight of the car.
Customers have the option to purchase a body and rolling chassis for $199,000, or they can spec a fully-built car from Finale Speed for $349,000.

We have featured full carbon fiber muscle cars on Generation High Output in the past, like the 1970 Dodge Charger “Tantrum” by Speedkore that we saw at the 2015 SEMA Show. Finale Speed takes it to the next level by offering a more tailored experience. Whether you want a fully completed car or a body and chassis that you can finish with your own powertrain and interior, they can handle it.
The 2023 SEMA Show car in the Dynamat booth was orangey-copper in color with exposed carbon fiber stripes. The car did not have a finished interior so that the Dynamat sound deadening products were visible. The car rides on a set of Chip Foose 18-inch Coronet wheels.

While I can only dream of owning a car like this, I think it is super cool the way that companies are using technology and materials like carbon fiber to make muscle cars that are stronger, lighter, and faster than ever before!

1973 DeTomaso Deauville – The Dollar Store Jaguar

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The iconic Jaguar XJ made its debut in 1968 with the XJ6. The luxury sedan was offered with three engine choices, the 2.8L making 140 hp, the 4.2L making 186 hp, and the 5.3L V12 making 250 hp. The car became an icon with its quad round headlamps and elegant styling.

Just two years later, Italian car maker DeTomaso came out with their own super saloon. The Deauville was introduced in 1970 and was produced through 1985. Keen-eyed viewers will observe the strong resemblance of the Deauville to the Jaguar XJ6. Is it a coincidence that both cars were in production at the same time?

DeTomaso’s car was much more powerful, with a 330 hp Ford 351 V8 engine under the bonnet. The body was hand crafted by Ghia in Italy. DeTomaso’s biggest commercial success was the two-seat Pantera, which saw 7,260 units produced. The Deauville saw just 244 of these cars built during the fifteen year production run. That is not what I would call a commercial success. Still, the Deauville is an interesting car for its rarity. I caught up with this one at the Mecum Collector Car Auction in Glendale, Arizona in March 2023. The car failed to sell at auction and was listed in an after-auction page on Mecum’s website.

To me, the Deauville lacks the style and elegance of the Jaguar. It looks like the imitation version of the Jag that you would buy at the dollar store. The car’s lack of commercial success and obscurity make it an interesting curiosity, but I’d definitely rather have the Pantera.